Page 5 - 5-8 GALAN I bozza:orientamento I bozza

The mediterranean diet, human heritage

tigious list of those traditions considered Intangible World Her-
itage of Humanity, so recognizing that set of intangible values,
traditions, agro-alimentary practices, which the “Mediterranean
Diet” represents.
Thanks to the tenacious work of Italian farmers and entrepre-
neurs, who laid on quality and tradition, Italy is an European
leader as far as EC acknowledgments are concerned, with 214
PDO, PGI and GTS products, which can officially boast a quali-
ty mark. The Agro-alimentary Made in Italy is a worldwide
acknowledged value, which decisively contributes to the nation-
al balance of payments and also for that reason, as alas we know,
all over the world Italian products suffer numerous “Italian
sounding” imitations.
For all those reasons “Food Landscape” is a good to be protect-
ed and enriched in all its components. It has to be considered a
valuable element of the Nation and to become object of concrete
policies in terms of enhancement and safeguard, since it is an
expression of the economical, cultural, environmental and terri-
torial aspects of Italy.
With its 188 years of tradition and experience and with the pro-
fessionalism of its agents, the State Forest Corps every day
ensures environmental and food and agricultural safety to the
national community, since, in the years, it has been able to update
values and ways of acting, from the ”forestry crime” to the one of
protected food and agricultural products counterfeiting.
This special issue of “Silvae” magazine, complete with articles
by experts and operators in the field, is a suitable opportunity to
debate and analyse these topics, so to tune up useful policies,
guide lines and actions, in order to make our Country greater
and more beautiful.

8 - SILVÆ - Anno VI n. 13